This happens to my roses like 2x a year. I cannot explain what causes them to form this way, but it seems to affect many different varieties and usually around the same time. Some varieties (elegant fairy tale, sugar moon, mr Lincoln)are more prone to it than others. I live in south Fl so cold or frost damage is certainly not the culprit. I read once that too much alfalfa can cause this to happen, and I think there is a coorolation because one year I used copious amounts of Rose Tone (which contains Alfalfa) and that was the year that I had it the worst. (I no longer use rose tone and I've seen a significant decline). Not to say that Rose Tone is bad, I believe it to be a good product, but I used it in pots and perhaps it was too concentrated. Have any if you seen a cooralation between using alfalfa meal and phyllody (or near phyllody) like Hoov says?

MUCH of what we're seeing this year IS due to the weirder than usual weather. Diseases and insects are at all time highs. I'm seeing tremendous die back on normally RUDELY healthy, vigorous roses here (Iceberg, Sally Holmes, Polka, Grandmother's Hat and shrubs of all types)I've never seen before and it is NOT due to any chemical applications. These gardens all have dogs which are not restricted in any way, other than to not be allowed out front where they can get into trouble. One has three small children, one of which has developmental issues and can't be trusted not to touch or eat things you'd normally expect to be safe. I don't spray any pesticides or fungicides in those areas, period. There aren't any aphids (too hot) but there are spider mites and scale which haven't been issues. There is the die back and slow growth which haven't been issues before. There is black spot and there is rust, and this is in arid gardens. But, this year, we got at least 150% normal rainfall. There has been humidity like never before. Morning fogs, afternoon mugginess and the compacted soils are just soggy with ground water and irrigation. The roses which are doing best are getting hosed out at least twice monthly to remove debris and insects. We've been in a perfect model for Fire Blight, humid/cool, humid/hot, humid/cool and I'm sure similar things are attacking roses and other species, too. Common areas are being watered more heavily and run off is affecting homeowner plantings as well. Few roses are behaving as they have for many years. It has to be the changed environment. Nothing else is different. Providing them with the resources they need is about all you can do without chemically making matters worse. I agree about removing the offending varieties, but you should perhaps wait until you are sure the conditions aren't going back to what they were previously. It seems a shame to toss something that's been great for years based upon a season of weirdness. As for horse manure, I had excellent results in arid, hot Newhall on virgin adobe, from "apples" still steaming, straight from the "machine". Just use enough water and keep it away from the crown/union of the plants. Worked wonders! Kim

Arek, Check for earwigs. Those little &%^$# can really go through my clematis buds fast. Katie

I too am having something eating holes in lots of my buds. I have never heard of rose slugs. Is it the same as the slugs that snack on my hosta and my dahlias?? Those critters can do some damage if left untreated. So what is a nematode?? Sorry but I am a newbie to roses other than knockouts. If I get some nematodes then I guess I will have to quit spraying or applying bayer?? I have been trying the bayer all in one to see how it does because I have tons of green aphids this year. Have never had such a problem with them before this bad. Sorry for so many questions. Theres always seems to be something out there trying to eat up all my plants and it drives me crazy. Judy